Exam Overview
- Home
- Manufacturing Sector Specified Skilled Worker evaluation test
- Overview of the SSW(i) Exam for Industrial Product Manufacturing Examination
[Important Notice] Change of Schedule for the First No. 1 Evaluation Examination of Fiscal Year 2026
Due to the implementation of the national examination and the need to secure examination venues throughout Japan, the schedule will be changed as follows.
[Before Change]
- Exam application period:
May 14, 2026 (Thu) 10:00 - July 7, 2026 (Tue) *Excluding Myanmar
May 27, 2026 (Wed) 16:00 - July 7, 2026 (Tue) *Myanmar - Exam period: July 12th (Sun) - July 18th (Sat), 2026
[After change]
- Exam application period:
May 14, 2026 (Thu) 10:00 - July 2, 2026 (Thu) *Excluding Myanmar
May 27, 2026 (Wed) 16:00 - July 2, 2026 (Thu) *Myanmar - Exam period: July 7, 2026 (Tue) - July 13, 2026 (Mon)
[Important Notice] Main Changes to the 2026 (Reiwa 8) Grade 1 Evaluation Test
The following two points will be changed starting with the first examination of the 2026 academic year (July 7th (Tue) - July 13th (Mon)).
[Changes to examination categories]
Seven new examination categories will be added. (This will bring the total number of categories to 17.)
- Additional test categories: Electric wire and cable manufacturing, Prefabricated housing product manufacturing, Furniture manufacturing, Shaped and Monolithic Refractories, Ready-mixed concrete manufacturing, Rubber product manufacturing, Bag and Luggage Manufacturing
[Changes regarding exam time]
The examination schedule will be changed to a two-part format: a 40-minute written exam and a 40-minute practical exam.
- Both the written and practical exams will automatically end after 40 minutes.
Please note that while you may finish the written exam before the time limit, the time limit for the practical exam will not be extended. - Once you start the practical exam, you cannot go back to the written exam.
Purpose of the exam
The METI is making progress in accepting "Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker " in the Industrial product manufacturing . Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker are required to possess "skills that require a considerable level of knowledge or experience" in the Industrial product manufacturing, and a "SSW(i) Exam for Industrial Product Manufacturing" will be conducted to confirm this skill level.
Exam Overview
| Examination Category |
17 categories Machining and metal processing, Electric and electronic equipment assembly, Metal surface treatment, Cardboard box manufacturing, Precast concrete manufacturing, RPF manufacturing, Pottery and porcelain making, Printing / Bookbinding, Fabricated textiles manufacturing, sewing, Electric wire and cable manufacturing, Prefabricated housing product manufacturing, Furniture manufacturing, Shaped and Monolithic Refractories, Ready-mixed concrete manufacturing, Rubber product manufacturing, Bag and Luggage Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Test location | Test centers provided by Prometric, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Prometric") (Domestic: throughout Japan / Overseas: India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar) |
| Exam time | Written exam: 40 minutes Practical exam: 40 minutes |
| Test implementation method |
CBT (Computer-Based Testing) method (theory and practical)
Materials related to the No. 1 examination can be found here. |
| Criteria for passing or failing | Written exam: 65% or higher correct answer rate; Practical exam: 60% or higher correct answer rate. |
| Language | Japanese |
| Test level | The standard is the equivalent of the Level 3 Skills Proficiency Test taken by those who have completed Technical Intern Training Level 2 and are exempt from the Level 1 Specified Skilled Worker Skills Examination. |
| Eligibility Requirements | In principle, applicants must be foreign nationals aged 17 or older (18 or older if Indonesian national) on the day of the examination, and must intend to work in Japan if they pass the examination. |
| application | Prometric SSW(i) Exam for Industrial Product Manufacturing Dedicated Page |
| Identification documents on the day of the exam | You will need identification documents as specified by the country where you are taking the exam.
|
| Examination fee |
All examination categories
|
| Method of notifying pass/fail results | Log in to the Prometric reservation site and confirm within 5 business days from the day after the exam date. |
Schedule and test locations
| Exam application period | Exam period | Test location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st |
|
July 7th (Tuesday) - July 13th (Monday), 2026 |
|
| 2nd time | Around October 2026 | Around November 2026 | |
| 3rd | Around January 2027 | Around February 2027 |
Application for Exam
Applications are currently closed.
For information about the exam, please see the dedicated page for the Prometric SSW(i) Exam for Industrial Product Manufacturing .
- You can view the multilingual page by switching to the "LANGUAGE" button in the header.
About the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
For the Japanese language test, please take it separately using the link below.
However, if you have successfully completed Technical Intern Training No. 2, the Japanese language test will be waived.
| Japanese level | The basic requirement is the ability to hold basic everyday conversations and live without difficulty, as well as the necessary Japanese language skills for work. |
|---|---|
| Exam (one of the following) |
Even if you pass a Japanese language proficiency test other than those mentioned above, it cannot be used as proof of the Japanese language proficiency required by the Specified Skilled Worker program. |
| If exempted | However, if you have successfully completed Technical Intern Training No. 2 in the manufacturing sector or other occupations/tasks, the Japanese language test will be waived. |
-
Inquiries regarding the Manufacturing Sector Specified Skilled Worker evaluation test For inquiries regarding the Specified Skilled Worker evaluation test, please contact the consultation desk.
-
Frequently asked questions This page compiles frequently asked questions regarding the Specified Skilled Worker evaluation test.
